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Virginia's unemployment rate increased for the third time in more than a year in September, but still remains below the national average.

The U.S. Labor Department said Friday that the state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in September was 6.5 percent, up from 6.3 percent in August but down from 6.7 percent a year ago.

Virginia's seasonally adjusted jobless rate has increased since a rate of 6 percent in June after having decreased since peaking at 7.2 percent from December 2009 to February 2010.

The Virginia Employment Commission said the number of unemployed increased by 7,676, or 2.9 percent, in September.

The national rate remained at 9.1 percent for the third straight month as unemployment rates fell in half of U.S. states last month. Rates dropped in 25 states, rose in 14 and stayed the same in 11. That's an improvement from August, when unemployment rose in 26 states.